A court in Delhi has served notice to Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman regarding a criminal defamation case initiated by Lipika Mitra, spouse of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Somnath Bharti. The complaint claims that Sitharaman made defamatory remarks about Mitra and Bharti’s personal matters during a press conference on May 17, 2024.
The case was presented before Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate (ACJM) Paras Dalal, who indicated that it is currently in the cognizance stage. In an order dated May 19, the court mentioned that, according to the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), the accused must be afforded a chance to respond. Consequently, the court instructed that notice be sent to Sitharaman, with the next hearing set for June 12.
Mitra has claimed that the finance minister’s statements referenced previous marital issues between the couple while failing to acknowledge their reconciliation and harmonious living since 2019.
The complaint asserts that these remarks aimed to harm Bharti’s public image and electoral chances in the New Delhi parliamentary district, where he is campaigning as an AAP candidate. Mitra argues that the comments were made “solely for political gain” and were “false, malicious, and misleading.”
Mitra is represented by lawyer Anand Prakash Gautam, along with her husband, Somnath Bharti. Additionally, the complaint emphasizes that the couple’s past conflicts were settled in 2019, a fact that received considerable media coverage at that time.
The court has formally registered the case and will assess further actions once Sitharaman replies to the notice.
(Edited by : Shoma Bhattacharjee)
First Published: May 23, 2025 5:39 PM IST
